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contacted me via Facebook.” Mehegan
said. “I immediately went online and
discovered that my U.S. Senator, Jeanne
Shaheen, is on the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee. I called her office
that afternoon, and they contacted me the
next day. Senator Shaheen latched on to
the story, and faithfully pursued his release
from the first day.”
While Brunson’s former roommate
and teacher did what they could in the
community to encourage his release, they
also became prayer warriors for the cause.
“God gave me a taste of what Andrew was
going through,” McArver remembered.
“God would wake me up at 2:00 or 3:00
a.m. and I would pray because I knew He
was calling me. I also prayed for (his wife)
Norrine and the children. All of their lives
were dramatically affected – I just wanted
him to get out and be reunited with his
family.”
Brunson met Norrine at Wheaton College,
where he was again McArver’s roommate
during freshman and sophomore year.
According to McArver, Norrine walked with
and beside Andrew through the “whole
thing,” and “deserves as much validation
as Andrew because they did everything as
a unit.”
Brunson came from a missionary family
and McArver was raised in an upper-
middle class household. These two Ben
Lippen students represented two worlds
colliding, as they first became roommates
and unlikely friends. McArver recalls their
relationship developing as a result of
both differences and common ground.
He described Brunson as a genuine and
sincere deep thinker with a big heart.
After Brunson’s release from prison,
McArver talked with him on the phone. They
expressed their Christian love for each other,
and updated each other on their lives.
“Andrew asked to pray
for me as a pastor and a
friend.” McArver said. “It
is so evident that seeds
were planted, fed, and
watered at Ben Lippen.
We still seemed to have such a selfless,
deep, abiding friendship even after a long
time of separation.”
McArver and Mehegan’s continued prayers
for Brunson include the ability to rest,
reconnect with his family, ongoing healing,
and that God will show him the next steps
for his life.
“Andrew spent time in Turkey because he
loves Turkey, but now he’s forbidden to go
back,” McArver reflected. “It must be very
sad for him.”
Current Ben Lippen students and the
greater community spent countless days
praying for Brunson, and were overjoyed to
hear of his release. Faculty members say it
has been an incredible learning experience
about the power of prayer for students and
administrators alike.
“I know that his release was through the
power of prayer,” said McArver. “God really
does care about and hear our prayers. It’s
still true today as it is when we read about it
in the Bible. God is alive and active in small
and grand ways. I’m very passionate and
happy about it. Andrew’s circumstances
have truly encouraged my heart.”
“Andrew is one of the most courageous,
determined and ingenuous men I have met.”
– former ben lippen teacher peter mehegan
Brunson served in
Turkey for 23 years
Andrew Brunson prays for
President Donald Trump
who worked for his release
from prison in Turkey
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